Coronation Street stalwart Liz Dawn - better known as Vera Duckworth - has been made lady mayoress of her home city of Leeds.

The actress joined Lord Mayor Bernard Atha at a ceremony at the city's Civic Hall to accept their new positions.

Mr Atha teamed up with the 60-year-old actress four years ago to set up a cancer charity and chose her to join him as mayoress in recognition of her work for good causes in the city.

Liz Dawn shows off her chains of office

He explained: "Liz was the ideal choice. She is a Leeds girl who has had so much success but has never forgotten her roots, and she has done so much for the city."

The Liz Dawn Cancer Appeal has raised £700,000 to fund a specialist cancer unit at the city's St James's Hospital.

She told reporters after the ceremony: "I was really thrilled to be asked to be lady mayoress because Leeds is my home town.

"I've worked in Manchester for 30 years and even though I love that city, I'm still a Yorkshire woman inside."

The former Rovers Return landlady's links with St James's Hospital go back to her childhood - she was admitted there at the age of seven after being involved in an accident which caused an injury to her top lip.

Dawn has also been given an honorary doctorate by Leeds Metropolitan University for her voluntary work.

Her 26-year career in the ITV soap will not be put in jeopardy by her new duties - Mr Atha has recruited various other Leeds women, including a breast cancer nurse and a cleaner, to help her carry out her work as lady mayoress.